Do You Let Your Kids Have A Facebook Account?

Moms Talk is a weekly discussion of a parenting topic. Readers send us questions that they would like answered or discussed on a future week. The Alpharetta Moms Council gets together and gives our opinions and then we turn it back to you, the readers. We hope that you will answer the question too, and give your opinion in the comments section at the end of the article. This week's question is about technology and kids.

Q:What is an appropriate age for kids to start talking on the phone or chatting on the computer with friends? I know that there is a minimum age for Facebook but so many of the parents around are letting their elementary aged kids have pages. What do you think?

A: I have not let any of my kids start a Facebook page (ages 8, 12 and 13). I don't even have one, and don't really want one. Perhaps if I had one they would be interested in starting their own. I find all the media that comes at me everyday very overwhelming and I try to keep it to a minimum with my kids as well. Between computers, cell phones, television and video games I think enough of their time is spent interacting in the digital world and I would prefer them engaged in other activities. I think electronics have made our lives easier in some ways, but more difficult in others. (especially parenting!) Teri Harrison, mom of 3

A: Great question, and one that is debated in our house fairly regularly.  Our oldest daughter has a little friend that calls here quite regularly to speak with her on the phone, and to be honest at 8 years old I feel she is a bit young to be chatting at night.  My husband and I also do not agree with children having Facebook accounts at all.  While a lot of children may be responsible there are still people out there that use the social media to attack one another, so in our house no Facebook.  We are strict parents, but when they get older hopefully they will appreciate our limitations just like now I appreciate the ones my parents put on me as a child.- Lori Salata, mom of 2

A: We have not had much of an issue with the phone with our kids yet. Once in a while one of their old friends from California will call and the kids will talk, but that is about it. As for Facebook, that is a different issue. Our oldest child has an account but I monitor it very closely. He wanted it for the games on it. The younger two ask for it but I will not let them. I do not worry about it simply because I am a stay at home mom and monitor what the kids do on the computer. They can not do anything on it without me knowing and all of the Facebook emails go through my account. -Tammy Bester, mom of 3